Corporate Art

This week I saw a tattoo that was a Sistine Chapel style angel, striking a very angelic pose while drinking from a large bottle of Dr. Pepper. Then there was the Blackberry guy who late last year, had a Blackberry tattooed on his calf with the message “iPhone Sucks” written beneath. Today, I’ve just read an article about Natalie “Kommodore” Thompson, who has had her inner forearm tattooed with Google’s “Andy the Android”. In fact, I would almost venture to guess that every major recognizable corporate logo in existence has at some point or will at some point, become a tattoo.

I can hear the groans of disgust already.They really aren’t an appealing thought, these corporate tattoos, are they?How much longer before someone shows up on the Internet, posting photos of their Starbucks logo arm sleeve?It could be minutes, it could be days.My bet is that it will happen sooner rather than later.

I for one like Natalie “Kommodore” Thompson’s tattoo.True, it’s not very original getting the mascot of a major corporation tattooed on your body, but when looked at objectively, how original is it to get a skull tattoo?Or a heart, or even Christ, for that matter?Not only that (and maybe I’m just totally living the caveman lifestyle, here), but I hadn’t even heard of this Andy the Android until today.The image is just subtle enough as to be mistaken for a cute little green robot.It’s not quite the same thing as having Coca-Cola or the Bulls Eye BBQ sauce logo scrawled across your flesh.At least not yet.

It’s coming, though:a world of human billboards, tattooed with all the latest insignia, in exchange for fifteen minutes of internet fame.You have to wonder if it’s the shock factor that motivates the desire for these sorts of tattoos or if it’s just a side effect of our 21st century culture.There are few other things that people can identify with less than the morality and social practices of a multinational corporation. Maybe that’s why it strikes so many of us as strange when others get corporate logo tattoos and such.Or maybe it’s the general consensus that getting the tattoo of a corporation’s name and insignia is a foolish, foolish thing to do.Either way, love them or hate them, corporate tattoos are here to stay.